• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.335-344
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• 2019

Obesity causes inflammation and impairs thermogenic functions in brown adipose tissue (BAT). The adipokine lipocalin 2 (LCN2) has been implicated in inflammation and obesity. Herein, we investigated the protective effects of caloric restriction (CR) on LCN2-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress in the BAT of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Mice were fed a HFD for 20 weeks and then either continued on the HFD or subjected to CR for the next 12 weeks. CR led to the browning of the white fat-like phenotype in HFD-fed mice. Increased expressions of LCN2 and its receptor in the BAT of HFD-fed mice were significantly attenuated by CR. Additionally, HFD+CR-fed mice had fewer neutrophils and macrophages expressing LCN2 and iron-positive cells than HFD-fed mice. Further, oxidative stress and mitochondrial fission induced by a HFD were also significantly attenuated by CR. Our findings indicate that the protective effects of CR on inflammation and oxidative stress in the BAT of obese mice may be associated with regulation of LCN2.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2010

Environmental-friendly agriculture (EFA) is defined as the cultivation of crops with reduced amounts or without chemical-synthetic pesticides. Recently, the use of chemical pesticides has decreased significantly; therefore, we cultivated peppers following EFA- and conventional methods and compared their antioxidant activities. To accomplish this, the environmental-friendly cultivated peppers (EFPE) and conventionally cultivated peppers (CCPE) were extracted with 70% methanol and the effects of the extracts on the cell viability, intracellular ROS generation, lipid peroxidation and catalase activity of HepG2 cells were evaluated. EFPE showed a stronger protective effect against oxidative stress induced-cell death than that of CCPE. EFPE also reduced intracellular ROS generation (42.7% to 26.4%) following treatment with hydrogen peroxide more effectively than that of CCPE (24.2% to 6.3%). Furthermore, EFPE and CCPE showed protective effects against lipid peroxidation and induced catalase activity, although these effects were not statistically significant. Taken together, these results suggest that EFPE showed stronger antioxidant activities than CCPE, and thus represent evidence that EFA with biocontrol materials may improve the functional properties of crops and/or secondary metabolites with antioxidant activities when compared with conventional agricultural practices.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.321-324
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• 2004

Smoke rods were prepared for 2 insecticides and 5 fungicides using powdered rice chaff as a combustible carrier, and their burning characteristics were investigated. The distribution of active ingredient was investigated after the application of the granular smoke generator containing fenarimol in the connected vinyl plastic house growing cucumber. The protective effects of fungicide smoke generators were evaluated against cucumber gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) and tomato late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and compared with commercial wettable powders. Smoke rods containing powdered rice chaff showed high smoking rates of AI that were higher than commercial smoke pellets. The deposition of fenarimol on the ground of vinyl plastic house was $26.2{\pm}7.7\;ng/cm^2$ when averaged from 9 sites, and application uniformity was found. Also, the protective effects of 5 fungicidal smoke rods against plant diseases were so similar to the commercial wettable powders with no phytotoxicity that smoke rod formulations containing rice chaff as a combustible carrier could be used as an effective formulation for pesticides.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2019

Soybean (Glycine max), as one of the foods with high plant proteins, contains a large amount of bioactive compounds and known to be effective in cardiovascular disease and obesity as well as in improving skin condition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-photoaging effects of soybean fermented with Lactobacillus Rhamnosus ($Bio-Peptone^{(R)}$) by assessment of cytotoxicity against UVB, collagen synthesis after UVB-irradiation, tyrosinase activity, and melanin synthesis. Results showed that $Bio-Peptone^{(R)}$ protected skin fibroblasts against UVB-induced cytotoxicity and increased type I collagen synthesis. Furthermore, $Bio-Peptone^{(R)}$ significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and reduced melanin contents. This study suggests that $Bio-Peptone^{(R)}$ has protective effects against UVB-induced skin damage. Thus, it is concluded that $Bio-Peptone^{(R)}$ is able to prevent skin damage against UVB and thus acts as anti-photoaging materials by protecting skin forming wrinkles and skin pigments.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. (PF) sprout is a plant of the labiate family. We have previously reported the protective effects of PF sprout extract on cytokine-induced ${\beta}-cell$ damage. However, the mechanism of action of the PF sprout extract in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has not been investigated. The present study was designed to study the effects of PF sprout extract and signaling mechanisms in the T2DM mice model using C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male db/db mice were orally administered PF sprout extract (100, 300, and 1,000 mg/kg of body weight) or rosiglitazone (RGZ, positive drug, 1 mg/kg of body weight) for 4 weeks. Signaling mechanisms were analyzed using liver tissues and HepG2 cells. RESULTS: The PF sprout extract (300 and 1,000 mg/kg) significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in db/db mice. PF sprout extract also significantly improved glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity, decreased hepatic gluconeogenic protein expression, and ameliorated histological alterations of the pancreas and liver. Levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein expression also increased in the liver after treatment with the extract. In addition, an increase in the phosphorylation of AMPK and decrease in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose 6-phosphatase proteins in HepG2 cells were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results sugges that PF sprout displays beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes via modulation of the AMPK pathway and inhibition of gluconeogenesis in the liver.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the anti oxidative potential and protective effects of water extract of Leonurus sibiricus L. leaf (LSLW) against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced oxidative damage in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). To evaluate the anti oxidative activity of LSLW, we measured DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion scavenging activities, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and reducing power of LSLW. For induction of oxidative stress in HaCaT cells, the cells were irradiated with UVB at 40 mJ/㎠. To investigate the protective effects of LSLW against UVB, we measured cell viability and apoptotic bodies using annexin V staining. LSLW showed anti oxidative activities by scavenging DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and by reducing lipid peroxidation. In addition, LSLW showed high reducing values. The UVB-induced oxidative conditions led to cell apoptosis. However, treatment with LSLW ameliorated oxidative stress conditions, including inhibition of cell death, apoptotic body. Taken together, LSLW exhibited anti oxidative and protective effects against UVB-induced damage in HaCaT cells. Thus, LSLW could be useful for the development of cosmetics for UVB-induced skin aging.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 2021

Perilla frutescens (P. frutescens) is an important herb used for many purposes such as medicinal, aromatic, and functional food in Asian countries and has beneficial effects such as antioxidant activity, anti-inflammation activity, anti-depression activity, and anxiolytic activity. However, there have been no studies on the protective effect of P. frutescens extract (PFE) on amnesia in vivo. The present study aimed to investigate whether PFE protects memory deficit using a scopolamine-induced mice model and elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved. The protective effect of PFE against scopolamine-induced memory deficits was investigated using Y-maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms of PFE in improving memory capabilities related to the cholinergic system and antioxidant activity were examined. PFE significantly increased spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test, step-through latency in the passive avoidance test, and swimming time in the target quadrant in the probe test when compared to the scopolamine-treated group. Likewise, PFE significantly decreased escapes latency in the Morris water maze test. PFE could not regulate cholinergic function in acetylcholine level and acetylcholine esterase activity. However, PFE increased DPPH radical scavenging activity dose-dependently and total polyphenol content was 127.7±1.2 ㎍ GAE/mg. The results showed that the PFE could be a preventive and/or therapeutic candidate for memory and cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.647-653
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• 2017

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is linked with high mortality rate. Several agents have been developed so far to reduce the risk of HIRI. In this study, we investigated the effects of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (AS) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion. To explore the protective effects of A. senticosus extract injection (ASI) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury rats animal model were used. After the development of HIRI by using clamping method rats were then randomly divided into five groups. Different doses of AS were administered in HIRI rat model. The level of ALT, AST, and MDA content in serum were detected in sham and HIRI groups. The activity of SOD, MPO and $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$, content of MDA, and cAMP in hepatic tissue were also measured. Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected by immunohistochemical staining method. Compared with sham group, ASI has the protective effect on the HIRI model in rats. Blood levels of ALT, AST, SOD, MPO, and MDA were significantly lower in ASI group compared with HIRI. Indeed SOD and $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ activities, MDA content, and cAMP level were improved in ASI group. Furthermore, Bcl-2 and Bax protein were improved in ASI group compared with only HIRI group. These results suggest that AS may provide potential ameliorative therapy by inhibiting the damage signaling mechanism in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury model.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2019

Amyloid ${\beta}$-protein ($A{\beta}$) is the principal component of senile plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and elicits a toxic effect on neurons in vitro and in vivo. Many environmental factors, including antioxidants and proteoglycans, modify $A{\beta}$ toxicity. It is worthwhile to isolate novel natural compounds that could prove therapeutic for patients with AD without causing detrimental side effects. In this study, we investigated the in vitro neuroprotective effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of Ophiophogon japonicas (OJEA fraction). We used an MTT reduction assay to detect protective effects of the OJEA fraction on $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced cytotoxicity to PC12 cells. We also used a cell-based ${\beta}$-secretase assay system to investigate the inhibitory effect of the OJEA fraction on ${\beta}$-secretase activity. In addition, we performed an in vitro lipid peroxidation assay to evaluate the protective effect of the OJEA fraction against oxidative stress induced by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ in PC12 cells. The OJEA fraction had strong protective effects against $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced cytotoxicity to PC12 cells and was strongly inhibitory to ${\beta}$-secretase activity, which resulted in the attenuation of $A{\beta}$ generation. In addition, the OJEA fraction significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, which is induced by the exposure of PC12 cells to $A{\beta}_{25-35}$. Our results suggested that the OJEA fraction contained active compounds exhibiting a neuroprotective effect on $A{\beta}$ toxicity.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2024

Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common disorders and it shows up to 20% prevalence in reproductive-aged women populations, but no cures are available to date. We aimed to investigate the protective effects of Changbudodam-tang (CBD) on cell death signaling pathways, inflammation, and oxidative stress observed in Bone-Marrow derived human mesenchymal stem cell (BM-hMSC) by means of PCOS therapeutics in the future. Methods: BM-hMSCs were applied with cell deaths and injuries. Apoptosis and pyroptosis signals were quenched with their related signaling pathways using quantitative PCR, Western blot, and fluorescence image analysis. Results: Our data clearly displayed hydrogen peroxide- and nigericin-treated cell death signaling pathways via regulations of mitochondrial integrity and interleukin (IL)-1β at the cellular levels (p < 0.01 or 0.001). We further observed that pre-treatment with CBD showed protective effects against oxidative stress by enhancement of antioxidant components at the cellular level, with respect to both protein and mRNA expression levels (p < 0.05, 0.01 or 0.001). The mechanisms of CBD were examined by Western blot analysis, and it showed anti-cell death, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects via normalizations of the Jun N-terminal kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7/c-Jun signaling pathways. Conclusion: This study confirmed the pharmacological properties of CBD by regulation of cellular oxidation and the inflammation-provoked cell death condition of BM-hMSCs, which is mediated by the MKK7/JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway.